How to Start a Mobile Detailing Business in 30 Days
Mobile beats fixed location for one reason: capital
You can launch a mobile detailing business for under €3,000. A shop costs €30,000+ before you wash a single car. If you're starting from zero, mobile is the lower-risk path — and 2026 demand is strong because clients want service at home or at the office.
Week 1: Kit and legal
- Register the business (sole trader is fine to start)
- Insurance: liability + garagekeepers if you'll move client cars
- Core kit: pressure washer (cordless or 12V), water tank (50-100L), generator or inverter, foam cannon, pads, chemicals, microfibers, vacuum, extractor
- Vehicle: a used van or estate car works. Brand it later, not now.
Week 2: Services and pricing
Start with 3 packages. No more.
- Exterior wash + wax — 60-90 min, €40-60
- Full interior detail — 2-3 hrs, €120-180
- Full detail (in + out) — 4-5 hrs, €200-300
Use the pricing formula to confirm your numbers cover materials, fuel, and your hourly rate.
Week 3: First 10 clients
- Post on local Facebook groups with before/after photos (your own car counts)
- Offer a €20 discount to first 10 bookings in exchange for a review
- WhatsApp Business profile with catalog of your 3 packages
- Google Business Profile — free, ranks fast for "mobile detailing [city]"
Week 4: Systems before you scale
This is where 90% of mobile detailers stall. They get busy, lose track of bookings, miss follow-ups, and never raise prices because they have no data.
Set up:
- A booking calendar (not paper, not WhatsApp screenshots)
- A client list with vehicle + service history
- Photo storage organized by job
- An invoice template with your branding
A free-tier detailing platform handles all of this — see the feature list. Set it up before client #11, not after.
What to skip in month one
- Wrapped van — wait until you have steady cash flow
- Ceramic and PPF services — they need training and certification
- Hiring — solo until you're turning away 5+ jobs a week
- A website — Google Business + Instagram is enough
Stay focused on the basics, charge fairly, deliver consistently. Month two is when you raise prices.
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